Lesson Plan Asian Americans Serving and Fighting in the Vietnam War

Asian Americans who served in the U.S. military during war in Vietnam were confronted not only by the harsh realities of war, but also with their racial and national identities. Asian American military service officers faced racism from their superiors and fellow U.S. soldiers, and were challenged by Vietnamese citizens and soldiers who saw a connection to them. This lesson explores some of the ways in which Asian Americans in the military experienced the war in Vietnam and the ways they negotiated their identities with being seen by both sides as “foreign invaders.”

Learning Objectives:
Students will be able to:

• Draw from information in the documentary and written sources to compare and contrast the experiences of Asian American men and women serving in the military and/or between the experiences of Asian Americans and Americans from other racial groups serving in the Vietnam War.
• Communicate ways in which (external) perceptions of, and lived experiences related to, their identities have impacted them.
• Participate effectively in discussions relevant to the internal/external conflicts that Asian Americans faced while fighting in the Vietnam War because of their racial and national identities.